USA Independent (Updated 2015)

Whiplash:

American Independent film
Written and directed by Damien Chazelle

• Budget: $3,300,000
• US Gross: $13,092,000
• Opening Weekend: $135,388 (US)
• First-time director

Production Companies:

Bold Films

Right of Way Films

Blumhouse Productions

Release:

• USA - 16th January (2014) - (Sundance Film Festival) (Premiered)
• UK - 15th October (2014) - (London Film Festival)

Distribution:

• Sony Pictures Classics (2014) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2015) (USA) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2015) (UK) (theatrical)

Cast:

• Miles Teller (Known from 21 and Over, Project X and the upcoming Fantastic 4-2015)
• J.K Simmons (Known from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy)
• Paul Reiser (Seasoned actor from Aliens (1986), Mad About You (1992)
• Melissa Benoist (Television actress from The Good Wife, Homeland and Law & Order)

Interesting Facts

• A majority of the scenes were only filmed a couple of times, leading the cast to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the film's narrative.
• Many of the extras in the studio band's reactions were genuine, as they were only hired to play the music and did not read the script.
• The slaps from Simmons to Tellers was a spontaneous gesture from the pair as they grew tired of rehearsing the same section, the slap was kept for the final shot.
• All of the music played in the live sections were actually played during filming.
• During intense drumming sections, after the scene was over, Damien Chazelle would refuse to yell "Cut" so that Teller would continue playing and become more fatigue.

Marketing:
Poster 1:

Accolades:

• Golden Globe Nomination (Golden font)
• Best Supporting Actor (J.K. Simmons)
• Quotes from reviews

Poster 2:

Visuals:

• Theme of the film (drumming) is presented along with a quote; "The road to greatness can take you to the edge" - main character (Andrew) is standing at the edge of the drumstick looking down on everyone from "the top". (Alt-interpretation) He looks like he is about to jump of from the high point due to the personal challenges that he is presented with during the film.